M. Philip Kahl, 1934–2012

Abstract

On December 4, 2012, Phil Kahl, as he was known to all his friends, died in his sleep at home in Sedona, Arizona, from a massive brain tumor. He was 78. Although he had suffered chronic fatigue for many months, and had seen several doctors, his two-year-old tumor growth went undiagnosed until eight days before his death. It was decided that he not be told. He had been an AOU Member since 1952; became an Elective Member in 1967 and a Fellow in 1979. He was also a Life Member of both the Cooper and Wilson ornithological societies. Phil had dual, parallel careers as a field researcher and a wildlife photographer—both depicted in the adjoining photos. As ornithologist, he is best known for his studies of large wading birds; in particular, the breeding behavior of storks, flamingos, and spoonbills. As photographer, his greatest achievement probably was seeing his work appear on two National Geographic covers (the ‘Holy Grail’ in photography), along with Audubon (3), International Wildlife (5), Natural History (1), et al. Marvin Philip Kahl, Jr., was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on September 28, 1934. His mother, Kathryn Black Kahl, with whom he was very close until her death at age 95, lived her entire life in Indiana. His father, who went by ‘Marvin’, was, in Phil’s eyes, a disappointment despite having a fine education (University of Chicago and University of Indiana School of Law). Most of Marvin’s